Rafael Nadal through to third round of Australian Open
"It was an important victory for me, he's a tough opponent"
Wednesday 17 January 2018 14:47, UK
World No 1 Rafael Nadal resumed his march towards a 17th Grand Slam title by defeating Argentina's Leonardo Mayer at the Australian Open on Wednesday.
Last year's finalist Nadal dispelled any lingering injury concerns in his opening match and looked in great form once again as he completed a 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory to set up a meeting with 28th-seed Damir Dzumhur, who beat John Millman in four sets.
"It was an important victory for me, he's a tough opponent," the 31-year-old Spaniard said. "Leonardo is a player with big potential, he hits the ball so strong and you could see in the last couple of games how tough was he.
"I had to hit some great shots in the tie-break, he's a very dangerous opponent.
"I am happy to be in the third round after being out of competition for a while, a second victory in a row is very important to me."
Nadal needs to reach the quarter-finals to be certain of retaining his world No 1 ranking after the Australian Open, with Roger Federer breathing down his neck.
Former winner Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fought to the bitter end to overhaul rising Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov in a five-set thriller.
Tsonga, seeded 15th, looked dead and buried when trailing 2-5 in the final set before 18-year-old Shapovalov faltered and allowed the experienced Frenchman to seize the initiative.
The 32-year-old came through 3-6 6-3 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 after three hours and 37 minutes on Margaret Court Arena and will now face Australian 17th seed Nick Kyrgios.
"Since the start I was behind him. I had to fight a lot and make him finish the match. He never did, so it's good for me," Tsonga said. "But the most important (thing) for me, it's to fight, give my best on court until the last point. That's what I did today.
"I think he deserved to win also today, but I was also courageous and I did my job at the end. I played well. I think I deserve it, too."
Kyrgios's challenge gained momentum as the home favourite outclassed Serbian Viktor Troicki to move into the third round without dropping a set.
The 17th seed remained focused to win 7-5 6-4 7-6 (7-2) on his favourite Hisense Arena and now faces Tsonga in what promises to be a standout clash on Friday.
Elsewhere Grigor Dimitrov, world No 3, survived a huge scare to defeat American qualifier MacKenzie McDonald in five-sets to avoid a shock exit and book a fourth round meeting with Russia's 30th seed Andrey Rublev, who saw off Marcos Baghdatis in four sets.
The Bulgarian, expected to challenge in the latter stages, was pushed the distance by the world No 186 McDonald but eventually prevailed 4-6 6-2 6-4 0-6 8-6 in a three hours and 25 minute night-session encounter on Rad Laver Arena.
Sixth seed Marin Cilic hit 40 winners, including 20 aces, on his way to a 6-1 7-5 6-2 second-round victory over Portugal's Joao Sousa.
Cilic will next face American Ryan Harrison, who beat Uruguay's 31st seed Pablo Cuevas 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
Croatia's Ivo Karlovic became the oldest man to reach the third round of the Australian Open for 40 years when he edged Japan's Yuichi Sugita in five sets in withering heat.
Karlovic, 39 next month, served down 53 aces as he came through 7-6 (7-3) 6-7 (3-7) 7-5 4-6 12-10 in four hours and 33 minutes - the longest match in the tournament so far.
He next faces Italian Andreas Seppi when he will be the oldest player to contest a third-round match since Ken Rosewall, aged 44, in 1978 when the draw was only 64.
